Fwiw
 

I'm coming to this a little late, but WTF.

I have used both the DVX100/100A and the XL2. After using the DVX for about a year, or so, I was about to buy one. Then, the XL2 came out. I was in the market for a good MiniDV camera (if there is such a thing) and the release of the XL2 made me do a lot of research. I rented an XL2 from Du-All Camera, here in NYC and I compared it with a friend's DVX.

I bought the XL2 because: it is native 16x9; has better rez in 16x9; has interchangeable lenses, including a manual lens; the color palette is very pleasing; accurate focus with the B&W CRT viewfinder; focus and zoom rings built into lens; Distance and focal length readable while shooting and from the AC's position; XL2 is more of a rig for film making. The cons are: lower rez in 4:3; bigger and heavier, esp when fully tricked out; audio is kind of messed up, but workable; most of the TV documentary people bought DVX's. I often get people asking me to match footage shot on the DVX.

The DVX is small, has good audio and a wider focal length than the Canon. Cons: electro focus and zoom- infinitely spinning focus ring; zoom and focus #'s are meaningless, but can be adapted to; need to get geared rings for zoom and focus if using follow focus; accurate focus sometimes difficult w/LCD.

A lot of this is moot as HDV is moving in quickly, but I think there is still plenty of room for MiniDV. I don't see too much time left, so I plan to squeeze as much out of my XL2's as possible.

The XL2 and DVX100A are both excellent cameras, but they each have their strengths and weaknesses as I mentioned earlier. For doccos I'd go for the DVX because it's small and light. If you are making a film, or are going to be on sticks, dolly, etc, get the XL2. I shoot a lot of TV docco stuff on the XL2, handheld and the Anton Bauer battery on the back balances the camera nicely. I have limited experience with the 100B, but it takes longer for the tape to load and I'm not sold on the "Peaking" function on the LCD.

You can get a Titan Twin charger and two Hytron 50 Batteries for a little over a grand. One Hytron 50 on the XL2 and you are good to go all day. If I use my onboard light, I may loose some time, but I have a spare Hytron 50 ready to go. On interviews, the only interruptions are for water, or tape changes. I may get Dionic 90's for my second XL2 and have even longer run times.

I shot a short musical this past May. Our Editor works at a boutique post house in NYC and the other Editors, who have seen it all, were surprised that our ten minute short looked so beautiful and was shot on MiniDV. A vote of confidence for the XL2.

I don't really see the PD-170 as an option, except for documentaries.

Can you read focus distance on the XL2 with the manual lens, or stock lens only?

You don't get a vf readout if that's what you mean. Of course with the manual lens, you get a marked lens barrel. And, if you spring for the b/w vf you'll get a nice little light on bottom to light up the lens barrel markings in low light.

With the 20x auto, it's up to your eyes. Although you can use the focus position preset to do a return to from where you are type effect but as others have noted, it's too fast to be usable as a slow rack focus effect.

On the new XLH1, you do get a focus distance readout in the vf with the stock 20x HD lens.

-gb-

I'm not sure I understand what you meant about distance/focal length being readable while shooting/from the AC's position.

From the side of the camera.

I can read the scales while my eye is at the finder and if I have an AC with me, they can see the scales as well. With the FU-1000, there is a little light that lights up the lens, which is handy.

Ah. Gotcha.

Went with the XL2
 

Well, I made this post a couple of months back, and I appreciate everyone's feedback. I went with the XL2, and don't regret it one bit...ITS AWESOME! My friend owns the DVX, and he loves all of my XL2's features. And I don't think the XL2 gets its fair share of credit, since it came out after the DVX.

Congrats
 

Bryan,

Congrats on your brand new baby. Essential accessories are the FU-1000 B&W viewfinder, 16x manual lens, a good tripod and a good quality wide angle converter. I recently got an Anton Bauer battery system for my rig and it's great. It balances the camera nicely. Other nice things are a matte box and a good Porta Brace bag. Be sure the tripod that can hold a fully tricked out XL2, which can be up around 20lbs.

Make sure that the camera is turned off when plugging and unplugging the viewfinders, changing lenses, pluggin or unpluging Firewire, the LANC control and mics w/phantom power. These can cause the camera to blow a fuse, unfortunately. Also, when changing batteries, be sure to wait for the camera to power down all the way, about 6 seconds, before taking off the batt. Otherwise you may get a timecode break. This is the case with many cameras, not just the XL2.

It's a pretty decent camera, make great images.

*BUMP*

After reading this thread I was glad I found it. I had settled on the DVX100B and plan to buy it in the next couple weeks. My reason for not waiting an extra month for the XL2 is because I would then have about 1000 to pay off with 170 dollar payments instead of about 90 with the DVX. If I get the XL2 my main problem was not being able to get any accessories for it for months because of the purchase of my new laptop. I am going to use the camera for filmmaking, but my main concern which I have resolved was seeing "normal" DVX footage. I always saw altered stuff and it almost seemed like the DVX couldn't do just a normal daylight video look. I love the rez on the XL2 but the LCD makes it a problem, although for an extra 300 I could get a 7in LCD for the top. That again brings up the whole no money for any other accessories problem, batteries, things like that. I think I made the right choice and I hope the DVX100B is everything im hoping for. Sharp video and clean video is important to me but the XL2 just doesnt seem practical to buy right now. Maybe ill get lucky and Canon will issue an XL2 rebate....yea right lol.

-Kyle